The Oddball Locomotives of BNSF!

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Merch, anyone? okieprint.com/SPR/shop/home

[@Grim_lurks]

Oki

[@danrailbro8980]

In regards to the BNSF Blue Smurf, there's currently one in operation number 2042. It's currently located on the BNSF race track in Illinois, specifically Eola yard.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

That’s awesome! Glad to hear that at least ones still out and about.

[@UDX-yo1sl]

Wow, it's getting around, I have a pic from 8-22 of 2042 on a storage track in Newton KS.

[@BNSFrailfan01]

@@UDX-yo1sl I saw it in there a few times with another Smurf, 2051

[@armageddon1981]

From a BNSF conductor who works out in Eloa i can concur to this comment!!

[@Illinoisrailfan-zg2pb]

It is used as power on RCHI452 along with BNSF 552, it’s been on there for the past 2 months now and idk how much longer it’s gonna be on there

[@beesbeesbees-andbees]

I think BNSF making a steam locomotive would count as an oddball locomotive.

[@moontrainz3790]

4729 was involved in a wreck in Bellemont, it was repaired with another D9 1101 but 1101 was repainted into h2

[@railfanmaximstill7279]

5:27 it's quite possible they caught fire since they are GE products and they are known for occasionally catching on fire

[@Jennifer-K5LA]

I was told by shop workers that the engine compartment section of the long hood on those GEs were swapped out due to fire damage caused by some sort of exhaust failure involving the turbo and some oil. Guess it's quite common with hi horsepower GE prime movers. Hope this helps 😊

[@KingSpade69420]

The Wereck that involved 965 was in Roswell,NM in 2015.

[@TrainsUSRF]

Smurf: should be at least 5 left, I know of three in a “dead line” and two out and about, it’s possible there are more running but I think there are 5-6 unpainted. “Frankinbonnets”: burned from turbos most likely or an issue with actual items of doors, exhaust piping or some along that matter.

[@IOwnASUV]

My guess on the long hood swaps, I believe comes down to the famous GE turbos and their tendency fail and shoot flames. I believe it stands within reason that a couple times the damage was too catastrophic to just live with so they found a locomotive about to go to the scrapper and just swapped it on.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

I can see that. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s what really happened, too.

[@timmydeee]

You can see something hot happened to the long hood of 1050 in your footage...probably not bad enough for a hood swap but likely the same issue as the frankenlocos

[@user-qu7jc8ht5q]

I grew up seeing the cascade green. Saw them slowly lose out to the new orange ones. The green was the forever classic to me

[@Gevoface]

965 looks AMAZING

[@Bnsf4729]

4729 had an engine fire and the long hood was replaced with a hood of a warbonnet also some bnsf enployees call it the warpumpkin

[@railfanmaximstill7279]

3:45 I believe it was involved in the Kismet Train Collision

[@-plan3guy-]

I think u talking about 1065?

[@Rip_CapitolLimited_29]

I’ve seen some oddball NS locomotives. The 9528 has a old paint job and it’s engine hood has the new logo, the 9262 has the old logo on one side and the new logo on the other, and the 9954 has the new paint job, but still it’s engine hood has the old loco. It was swapped due to probably a fire.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

That’s cool, I didn’t know NS had oddballs like that.

[@Rip_CapitolLimited_29]

@@Southern_Plains_Railfan they did.

[@Matthewzen9]

Great video! One intentional oddball that gets forgotten is BNSF 7687, another experiment H3 motor with the lower nose area being orange instead of black.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you! I’ve never heard of BNSF 7687. Thanks for letting me know.

[@tramtrak629]

I’ve seen that locomotive!

[@KreativeFotoVideo]

wow they look so good on trains

[@Greatdome99]

Also in 2005, Burlington Northern Santa Fe changed its name to BNSF Railway, wholly owned by Berkshire Hathaway (Warren Buffett)--there is no BNSF stock.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Yep, that’s why they’re the most profitable RR in the country.

[@armageddon1981]

Actually glad i left UPRR and worked for them!!

[@williamjones4483]

@05:02 I suspect what happened considering these are G.E. loco's is that they caught on fire and and the fires were so bad that the sheet metal was badly ruined and long hoods were removed from other locomotives to place on these two units. Please observe the burnt area on #4729 underneath the radiators.

[@emrilbennett8704]

5:12 wow! Those are kinda neat though. Kind of an apocalyptic in a cool creative way? I don’t know. It’s just so weird and unique and I love it.

[@kentheld3733]

Just FYI, the Golden Swoosh was actually the second BNSF motor to receive the swoosh scheme. The first was 7687 and it wears a black swoosh outlined in gold. 7701 was the third and final test unit for the swoosh scheme which ultimately led to BNSF applying the black swoosh on all new orders of locomotives. So yes 7695 is for sure a one-of-a-kind.

[@LordMemes2025]

The EX-GMTX smurfs were iconic👍

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

I think there's still a few out there.

[@milw_man156]

there’s at least one left because I saw one a few weeks ago

[@TweezersUnlimited]

Willmar had one lying by the former roundhouse last time i checked

[@ElectroshockTrains]

They're so much better than what CN did to them

[@TrainsUSRF]

@@milw_man156I know of 4, found three in one area near me.

[@courtemanche437]

I kinda wish the golden swoosh had stuck to be honest, I think it's the perfect mix of an evolution of BNSF's image but also not being totally different, but maybe that's just me.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Yeah, while it is a neat design, the yellow text on an orange background makes the logo hard to read sometimes. Especially at a distance.

[@courtemanche437]

Makes sense

[@armageddon1981]

BNSF conductor here from the Chicago division, yes there are some still in rotation. I was just on BNSF 2042 not even a month ago in Eola yard in Aurora,Illinois. That locomotive is used as a switcher between Eola and Cicero yards.

[@RDC2003]

Liquid gold voice: vi-de-yuh! Very enjoyable to watch

[@RioTG333]

0:20 BNSF 777. Its the Unstoppable BNSF lol

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

lol, I guess it is!

[@RioTG333]

​@@Southern_Plains_Railfanwish that was used in Unstoppable, instead of a CP engine.

[@AlessandroRosales-rx7xf]

What about CSX 777

[@Ozarkrailfanprod8098]

Let’s not bring up 1050 as I’ve missed it lead 2 times, and missed it trailing too

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Dang, that’s tough…

[@RailfanAlexGonzalez]

Yeah it must’ve suck, I got it leading on S-MEMLBT back in September 2022

[@Ozarkrailfanprod8098]

@@RailfanAlexGonzalez don’t bring that up 😭😂

[@Winternight11]

Yes

[@TheActualKingOfRailfanning]

Yeah I’ve had that happen with CN herritage units

[@Tool-Meister]

Well I scanned a few replies and I'm really confused that anyone would mistake the 4014 for a BNSF locomotive. If it really was all numbered up for BNSF, it truly WOULD be an Oddball Loco!!

[@TheActualKingOfRailfanning]

4729 was in a wreck sometime ago. In the late 90s it looked like a bnsf H1 scheme paint with no lettering.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

That's pretty interesting, thanks for the info!

[@trainzguy2472]

2 rarer oddities were BNSF 168 and 169. They are GP60s built for the Texas-Mexican railway, but spent time on the Vermont Railway System after Tex-Mex got bought by KCS. 168 wore VRS red while 169 wore Tex-Mex green. 168 is supposedly still somewhere out there in VRS red, albeit renumbered to 198. 169 got wrecked, repaired, renumbered to 199, and repainted (twice, once after being heavily graffitied).

[@Iconoclasher]

The livery at 3:54 is pretty sharp. It's simple and eye catching. Most BNSF liveries are too complex with the pinstripes and all. The locomotive already has a complex structure so a complex paint scheme is just too much.

[@timbnsfs.9275]

Dude, the old vomit colors were easily the best. I don't get why everyone hates on it lol I love this video, I keep my eyes on the line for these!!

[@jakekreutzer]

Couldn’t agree more. Doesn’t deserve the hate or the name! Have an MTH O Scale model of that one and have always loved it!

[@WMAC_Master]

BNSF definitely has some cool paint schemes. that's what makes them fun. The smurf ones are pretty awesome.

[@EntertainmentWorldz]

great train video

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you!

[@KadenStenka]

I've caught BNSF 7695 a couple of times and only 2 times has it been leading! It got the horn swapped with a K3LA but still an amazing engine!

[@courtemanche437]

Much more fitting horn if you ask me :)

[@AlikStansberry]

So glad you covered just about every odd ball unit from BNSF’s history! That’s one reason why they’re a favorite of mine after all. I actually didn’t know the swoosh logo was original gold like that, because I used to think it was a possible paint mistake. Glad I’m wrong there. The franken units, I’m guessing had wreck damage to result in their hoods swapped, but I can’t tell. I don’t blame them for trying out that Vomitbonnet livery, but the bonnet logo just doesn’t mesh well with executive colors too well. I really like the great pumpkin scheme, with the classic BNSF cross logo in red letters. Not sure if they plan to rebuild that unit, but I just hope we see it operate again soon. I also like the H1s with H3 styled noses, the swoosh logo just happens to blend well with the rest of H1. Did you know there a few old ATSF yellowbonnets that had big yellow BNSF logos on them? They still had their ATSF styled paint, but with a modified yellow BNSF on the front and sides. I’ve seen a few pictures of them, but I never see anyone discuss them.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Glad you enjoyed the video! I’ve seen a couple pictures of those ATSF/BNSF bluebonnets you’re talking about. I assume their story would be similar to that of a few BNSF warbonnets, where they were half painted when the merger happened, so the paint shops just put BNSF on the side instead of Santa Fe.

[@trainlover123trainsrock]

@@Southern_Plains_Railfan You forgot 4723, the Microsoft Train simulator sticker unit

[@gamingwithlukeJToH]

@@trainlover123trainsrock I think when he says intentional he means they were painted, but the paint scheme just didn't stick. That one was intentionally made to be a one-off.

[@trainlover123trainsrock]

@@gamingwithlukeJToH It was still made as a special sticker unit.

[@ivertranes2516]

FYI: while Bluebonnet and Yellowbonnet have now come to describe the ATSF freight scheme, those names originally referred to the paint schemes applied to a group of F7's that Santa Fe were basically forced to lease to Amtrak. When they shipped them out for lease, the brass demanded that the red warbonnet be painted over, because they were not going to let Amtrak use their scheme. Some were blue and some were yellow and all were less than attractive. Old-time ATSF fans would have referred to the last yellow and blue scheme as a "freight-bonnet".

[@MidwesternRailfan]

Fun fact about the Great Pumpkin: It actually wears two separate paint schemes. One on each side. One has a solid one and the other side has double lines.

[@bgreenwo2]

In one of your videos you talked about EMD SD 38s and 40s. In southwest Pennsylvania there is the Cumberland coal mine. They operate a private railroad with three locomotives and 47 hopper card. The track is approximately 17 miles long and runs from the prep site at the mine to the barge loading dock. They have two SD 38-2 locomotives and one SD 40-2.

[@Buck1954]

I live near Hwy 36. I see many of these paint schemes on BNSF locomotives. I wondered about the mismatch.

[@MattGTrainz]

Great video. I went through all of my BNSF shots, all 3 of them to see if any were on the list. Technically 2, KCS (now CPKFC) bought a dash 9 and patched it.

[@southeastiowarailfans5560]

A couple of the smurfs used to worj at Relco in Albia, Iowa. Not sure if they are still there or not.

[@nscalefun]

AWESOME!!! Thank you for sharing.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

You’re welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed.

[@OhioCentralModeler]

The frakenengines that seem to have middle sections of their long hoods replaced with mismatching sections are all GE Dash 9s. I'd give it 95%+ odds they blew out their turbos spectacularly and the portion of the long hoods got burnt out, rather than any wrecks somehow only damaging the centers of the locomotives.

[@vega1287]

afik bnsf 4729 had an engine fire. so they used the long hood from a war bomet that (i think) was crashed at one point.

[@kevinqualkenbush6114]

Saw "smurf" #2042 at the BNSF Eola Yard outside of Aurora Illinois

[@josefw.1934]

965 is here in Alliance Nebraska, its weird seeing this video and seeing it in person in the diesel shops mixed with aces and gevos

[@CobaltZ_hans]

I was able to catch 7695 one year on National Train Day at Fullerton. But those photos have sadly been lost to time

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Cool! That sucks that the photos are lost, but at least you can say you've seen it.

[@lizggil123]

That’s only a couple minutes away from my house! Sucks that I wasn’t into trains at the time.

[@southeasternnewmexicorailf9851]

I actually saw one of the Frankenstein units leading a westbound mixed freight train through McCartys New Mexico on Sunday

[@brianfalzon6739]

Thanks for sharing!

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Of course!

[@RLM382-3]

Also alongside 1050 is BNSF 7816 which has a H2 lettering on the long hood

[@cxmx3295]

I’ve seen a BNSF Smurfs in Newton, Kansas

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Oh cool! When did you see it?

[@GreenOverRed]

My dad happened to stumble into the golden swoosh just outside of Bakersfield CA a few months ago. Edit: 5441 is also a H1/H2 Frankenstein

[@debikawaii]

I've seen 5441 as well! Its scheme is H2 but it has engine panels from an H1 unit. According to rrpicturearchives, the swap happened sometime 2018 or later.

[@GreenOverRed]

@@debikawaii Yeah. I saw it a few months back and I have an N Scale model of it too

[@lizggil123]

Now I’m jealous! I only live about 2 hours away from Bakersfield. Your father is lucky!

[@GreenOverRed]

Awesome! I grew up there but I currently live in Washington. I hope to move back to Bakersfield or elsewhere near the Cajon Pass when my Army contract is done.

[@lizggil123]

@@GreenOverRed cool

[@Haya_archive1]

3:45 ngl it looks actually dope

[@dj196301]

Your videos are outstanding for a bunch of reasons. Pace, music. Top drawer!

[@WoodsBeatle]

i dont know if this counts, but during the 80's, Southern Pacific and Santa Fe were planning to merge. they developed a new paint scheme nicknamed Kodachrome which looks really nice. Of course eventually SP would be consolidated into Union Pacific instead of ATSF. nevertheless, they're certainly oddballs locos since Santa Fe would later be merged with Burlington Northern

[@MrDgwphotos]

I would not be surprised if no Kodachrome's still exist.

[@MrDgwphotos]

At least in service, but there is a SP GP-9 in Kodachrome at the Portola museum.

[@Pensyfan19]

Great video! Just found this in my recommended now. I just so happened to make an episode of 965 and 1063 for my locomotive documentary series, Remarkable Engines. 4729 was also mentioned by another famous youtuber named Hyce in his diesel locomotives 101 video, where he called it the war pumpkin.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you, I’m glad you like the video! Actually, the only reason I know about 965 and 1063 is because of your video, (I saw it several months ago) which I must say was very well done. I’ve heard of Hyce, I think it’s cool he calls 4729 the Warpumpkin. That’s pretty creative!

[@kevinqualkenbush6114]

Was at the BNSF Eola Yard in Aurora Illinois about a month and a half ago when I saw BNSF #2042 a "smurf" unit sitting outside the office on what the turntable. I'd attach the picture but I'm not sure I can.

[@BDOMPH]

The 2 ge with the odd ball long hoods most likely had a major engine bay fire and the car body they have now was probably off locomotives that were in major accidents. Or had broken frames.

[@KansasTrains]

Caught 4729 in Topeka fresh out of the shop. Didn’t realize how new at the time.

[@brucedale4465]

Back in approximately 2004 me and a electrician were told to do a daily inspection on a Santa Fe dash 8. When we got there we looked at it , I told him I’m not going to work on it. It was number 666. We told our foreman he had someone else do it. Later we learned they changed the numbers on the locomotive. Just saying it was kinda spooky to a couple of Christian railroaders✝️

[@kens.3729]

Have never seen the BNSF Golden Swoosh Units. 🤔👍

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Me either, hopefully we can both see it some day.

[@Minnesota_Rails]

Epic! I’ve never seen any oddballs yet but I’m still looking!

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Happy hunting!

[@DanielNavarrete-k7g]

I saw an oddball

[@DanielNavarrete-k7g]

Which was Bnsf 5441 that has H1 long hood

[@jpdriver1967]

There is a smurf stored at Newton Kansas. Has been there a couple of years. Don't have the road # at this time.

[@luisalejandrogalvan358]

Rhe BNSF 1063 Crashes and Wreck with 3 Ferromex on April 29 2015, I'm Caught The BNSF 4467 with front logo H3 ago August 2021 Great Video!

[@KatoOnTheTrack1]

Thanks for this video. I found it helpful since I’m choosing BNSF to lead my fictional RR.

[@michaelricks1618]

Very interesting indeed! Thanks a lot for sharing. Good luck in catching your wanted oddballs out on the main.

[@michaelsullivan3581]

Great Videa! I'm furly sure that both FrankenLocos had engine room fires that necessitated a new engine hood assembly from the nearest donor "parts" locos! Thanks agin' fer the great collection!

[@emrilbennett8704]

Whatever the case, they look kind of odd, but cool! Whatever the case, they look kind of odd, but cool!

[@GOLDENPKG]

3:59 fun fact: 1065 and 1063 were both involved in train collisions, but 1065 was completely repainted :(

[@ReadingAreaRailfan]

We should all call that one with the CR door the BN quality unit 😂

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Lol!

[@UsTrainsAndSirens]

With the H1's I've seen a few on the mainline. I even saw 1050 2nd out (the H1 with the gold BNSF letters)

[@Coalbacob]

I am living in Fresno where I live in a house by a railroad. Every time I see BNSF but I saw one BNSF carrying a KCS oddball. I thought they were restored.

[@rebelroar78]

I remember in the very early 2000s seeing a BNSF locomotive that was all silver except for the big red BNSF letters on the side.

[@JJfan48]

I saw the golden swoosh just off the 58 in Tehachapi last week!

[@RdgRails2102]

Nice video, some interesting schemes from BNSF

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Most definitely, thank you!

[@alexstewart9068]

If I owned a railroad every locomotive would have a different paint job. But I have a long list of things I'd do if i owned a railroad.

[@brysonfischerrailfan]

I have seen the last one at the calwa yard in California. But it was numbered 5441 and it was leading a train.

[@GEVOCN2331freight]

Yeah the golden showsh is hard to get

[@brandoncarstensen1637]

As far as Smurf units go, Im not 100% sure if it's still there or not, but I've noted one Smurf unit often seen in Willmar, MN yard shops each time I visited.

[@domin8r12]

Very nice!

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thanks!

[@trainchaserlouisvilleindia7096]

2:23 I saw one a few days ago! They cleaned the bottom of it and it was silver! It’s 7697 tho

[@franzbrunner499]

at 4:10+ you mention 965, 1065 ans 1113 -but pic shows 1063 -which is correct? thank you

[@WestValleyRailfan]

4:16 I caught 1113 back in June! And Also 1050 twice

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Awesome!

[@AndrewTheRocketCityRailfan4014]

The Vomitbonnet makes a lot more sense of the orange scheme. Still I miss the green and warbonnets

[@hannahcoker3475]

the barfbonnt is in storage in minneapolis you can see this at 2:02. bnsf re numbed the vomit in 2020 to 9846

[@emrilbennett8704]

Whaaaaat!! Awesome!!!

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thanks!

[@CoSpringer]

my friend saw 1063 about 12 days ago, on the colorado springs subdivision heading to pueblo from denver

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Cool!

[@BNSFTrains10]

UPDATE: 9647 and 4331 are NOT in Service it is now in Deadline Storage.

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

That was really cool, I learned a lot, Thanks! (Dave).

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

You’re welcome, I’m glad you enjoyed!

[@iatif1995]

There is a very forgotton BNSF GP60 unit with the Vermont Railway paint scheme numbered 198. I believe it is still in service with its red and white paint scheme.

[@Thatguy-kg3tz]

Can I ask, I’ve seen a very odd white Bnsf locomotive 3 times pulling the coal trains from Wyoming south and back again, what’s the deal with those or that one?

[@davidwood2205]

This is awesome!

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you!

[@sernajrlouis]

Cool video

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you!

[@Molly_and_emily_NWR]

I seen one in Texas 4729

[@matthewlindstrom8728]

Question what are the 2 small tiny yellow vehicles where the first one is a construction vehicle look alike the 2nd one looks like a yellow tractor

[@TrentonDo-m1u]

I saw the golden swoosh I think in Idaho!

[@bbtrainproductions1225]

What the heck that’s cool

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Riiiiight??? 😁

[@theoddfish4376]

I’ve seen a bunch of these and didn’t notice they had special paints

[@frenchtoast2027]

A small oddball. BNSF 4560 had a Conrail door until it got painted over or something.

[@kens.3729]

Hopefully the Owner (Warren Buffet) of the BNSF Railroad never gets an opportunity to design the next color scheme of New BNSF Units. 😬👍

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Lol

[@Winternight11]

I saw a Santa Fe warbonit

[@Cnw8701]

And I also caught BNSF #5441, one of the "Frankenbonnets".